There is nothing like a steaming hot cup of coffee after a night out under the stars. Even the everyday ritual of coffee making feels magical when you’re surrounded by nature. Ask the millions of Americans who go out camping every year, and the majority will tell you that learning how to make coffee while camping is one of the best camping hacks.
In this blog post, we’re going to discuss the various ways of doing it, so you can also experience the pleasure of having a steaming hot cup of coffee on a cold, damp morning, sitting by the campfire, the next time you’re out for camping.
Below, we are going to discuss different ways of making coffee while camping. But, first, let’s take a look at what you’ll need for it.
Things You May Need to Make Your Cup of Coffee
The exact items you’ll need depends on what coffee-making method you prefer to use. However, for your convenience, here we’re listing everything that you may require to make your morning cup of Joe while out in the wild:
- Your favorite coffee
- Coffee grinder– if you prefer using fresh grounds
- Portable camping stove
- A kettle, percolator, or French press, depending on which coffee making method you’re going to use
- Coffee mug
The 5 Best Ways to Make Coffee While Camping
For all those wanting to learn how to make coffee while camping, here are some of the best ways as per seasoned campers:
1. Instant Coffee
Instant coffee may not have the best reputation among coffee lovers, but it is the quickest and easiest way to get your morning coffee fix in the wild.
All you have to do is dissolve a packet of instant coffee in cold or hot water (learn how to boil water while camping) and stir.
2. Cowboy Coffee
When in the countryside, why not adopt the cowboys’ ways of doing things? The cowboy method of making coffee while camping is the simplest way to prepare a fresh brew. It requires limited resources and minimal gear. All you will need is a kettle or a pot to water in, your favorite ground coffee (you will need a coffee grinder if you prefer fresh grounds), and, of course, fire.
To make coffee the cowboy style, you need to boil the water first. Once the water starts to boil, remove it from the heat and let rest for about 30 to 40 seconds or until it stops boiling. Now add two tablespoons of ground coffee per serving and stir well. Let the brew rest for a couple of minutes. Stir again and let it rest for another one to two minutes, so the coffee grounds settle in the bottom.
Pour the coffee slowly into your mug and enjoy your freshly brewed cup of Joe while listening to the sounds of nature.
3. Single Serving Pour-Over Coffee
Do you enjoy pour-over coffee but don’t want to carry the whole lot of items it requires to the camping site?
You don’t need to because we have single-serving pour-over coffees now.
Specifically designed for campers, single-serving pour-over coffee has significantly simplified the process of making coffee while camping. It comes in a teabag-like packaging and consists of a small pouch containing coffee grounds and an extendable paper frame over it.
To make your pour-over on the go, all you have to do is to place the pouch on the top of your cup with the help of its paper frame. Tear the pouch from the top, and then pour boiling water over the grounds. Let the coffee drip, remove the pouch, and enjoy.
4. French Press Coffee
The rich and flavorful brew prepared using a French press has a separate fan base. If you’re one of them, you will be delighted to know that you can now enjoy French press coffee while camping. The delicate glass French presses now have their sturdier and durable counterparts made of plastic and stainless steel, ideal for the rough and tough camping life.
Making coffee while camping using a French press is very simple. Just add ground coffee into the container, pour boiling water over the top, stir, and let the coffee stop for 8 to 10 minutes. Gently press the plunger to pour yourself a freshly prepared brew.
5. Percolator Coffee
Coffee percolators may not be well-loved by the specialty coffee aficionados, but they have long been the go-to choice of adventurers for making coffee while camping. The reasons being their ease of use and the strong coffee they produce.
A coffee percolator is similar to a kettle, but it has separate coffee grounds and water chambers.
To prepare a brew using a percolator, remove the basket and tube from the kettle. Fill it up with water. Place a paper filter in the basket, top it with coffee grounds and place it back into the kettle along with the tube. Cover the percolator with the lid and place it on the heat. The best part? If you have an old-school enamel percolator, you can even use it over the campfire. Let your coffee brew for about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let it rest for 2 to 3 minutes to let the grounds settle down before pouring yourself a cup.
Our Final Thoughts
Gone are the days when making fresh brew while camping was a dream of coffee-loving campers. Now, many tools and products allow us to enjoy a freshly brewed, steaming hot cup of coffee in the wild—No more missing your favorite morning cup of Joe while living the adventurous life. Whether you’re a seasoned camper or heading to the woods for the first time, learn how to make coffee while camping to warm up on chilly mornings and mid-day pick-me-ups.
